Queens Gate Tunnel, Cardiff

VVB was appointed by Cardiff City Council for the maintenance of the Queens Gate tunnel in Butetown, under an NEC3 Term Service contract, which covered the design, supply, installation and maintenance of Mechanical and Electrical equipment and infrastructure.

Services

Fire and Mechanical and electrical

Project Value

£1 - 10 million

Sector

Highways

VVB was awarded a three-year maintenance contract by Cardiff City Council, to look after the design, supply, installation and maintenance of Mechanical and Electrical (M&E) equipment and infrastructure, for the continued control and management of the Queens Gate tunnel and related services.

The 725 metre, twin bore, cut-and-cover tunnel runs along the A4323, a 19.6 kilometre dual carriageway linking parts of Cardiff to other major routes. The tunnel handles 14,000,000 vehicles annually.

The systems managed under the contract included Altaroute and Rota Panel Variable Message Signs, the A470 Tidal Flow system, UPS maintenance, the nitrogen foam system, generators, main drainage and fire defence systems, environmental plant control monitoring and the Variable Message Sign System (VMSS).

In addition, VVB undertook principal inspections of tunnel box sections to both East and West bores, East and West portals, the fire pump station and the undercroft areas beneath Mermaid Quay and the Quayside complex areas.

As part of the maintenance contract, a fan replacement work package was included, involving decommissioning 72 existing fans and replacement with 64 increased efficiency jet fans.

Systems maintained

Altaroute variable message signs: quarterly maintenance schedules for continued operation of 33 Altaroute variable message signs, including fault attendance and repair.

Rota Panel variable message signs: quarterly maintenance schedules for continued operation of 47 Rota Panel variable message signs, including fault attendance and repair.

A470 tidal flow: quarterly maintenance schedules for the continued safe operation of the tidal flow system, including three inbound and three outbound gantries, three UPS supplies and Master Controller outstation equipment and cabinet. Annual inspection and maintenance covered three mimic signs and all road studs.

UPS maintenance: 24 / 365, four-hour fault response for the 10KVA UPS, 40KVA UPS and NXRE modular UPS.

Nitrogen foam system: annual replacement of three Oxygen Cells, storage of spares, and fault response.

Generator maintenance: system maintenance including PLC and lead acid battery replacement, as necessary. Annual fuel samples and change of filters, oil and coolant at prescribed intervals.

Main drainage and fire defence maintenance: annual inspection and fault response for tunnel drainage and fire protection pumping systems.

Environmental plant control monitoring: quarterly maintenance schedules for all VIS/NO/CO sensors and photometers, server and master controllers, including fault attendance and repair.

Variable Message Sign System (VMSS): quarterly maintenance schedules for the continued operation of the VMSS, including fault attendance and repair.

Experience and expertise under our belt

We deliver mechanical, electrical, telecommunication, temporaries and fire engineering services for large-scale infrastructure projects, powered entirely by our own people, skills and industry know-how.

View all projects
£350m Over £350m total project value delivered
500 Over 500 years' experience among our PAYE employees
20 Over 20 live projects UK-wide
15 Over 15 accreditations
£350m Over £350m total project value delivered
500 Over 500 years' experience among our PAYE employees
20 Over 20 live projects UK-wide
15 Over 15 accreditations

How can we help?

Get in touch

Get in touch to discuss our services in more detail. We look forward to learning about your project.

Contact us